Travel back in time to a place in South Carolina’s history when there were fewer people and even fewer automobiles on our highways. In many ways life was much simpler back then. Thank goodness our roads have expanded and grown in efforts to keep up with the population explosion that’s occurred in The Palmetto State in the last century. It must be a daunting, never-ending task to keep up with it all.

These 21 rare photos provide a glimpse into the past and a keen look at how the state has managed to update South Carolina’s roads and bridges over the last century. We even tucked in a few shots of ferrys that used to haul people over waterways before all the bridges were built. Take a look.

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In March of 1917 South Carolina passed the State Highway Act, thereby establishing the South Carolina Highway Commission. The agency is celebrating 100 years this year. Our hats are off to the folks who take the pothole complaints, who fix roads, build roads and watchdog the safety of our bridges. Thanks for all you do.

If you want to see more rare photos from the past, The SCDOT Facebook page is celebrating the agency’s Centennial by posting a nostalgic photo every day in 2017.

For more rare photos from South Carolina’s past, check out these 21 photos taken in South Carolina during the Great Depresssion, or this video footage from the 1930s.

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